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mayqueen517Fic! I bring fiiiiccc!
Ages ago,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fictionalfaerie bought one of my fics for the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
help_haiti thing. And I failed so hard on producing on time, unfortunately.
But here it is! She asked for a Small town AU with her OT3 (Ryland/Alex/Victoria) along with everyone else, as you do. I'm going to be posting more from this universe hopefully, but I thought I'd post the first part of it, the actual fic.
Title: At Least I'm Waking Up
Pairing(s): Ryland/Alex (pre Ryland/Alex/Victoria)
Rating: Light R
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Title comes from Bang by Empires!
Word Count: 3683
***Notes: Completely unbeta'd, so there may be a few tense changes etc. Apologies if you spot them!***
Summary: It's a random city on a map, ridiculous in it's name, welcoming once you arrive. Ryland and Alex leave New York and come here, to heal, to comfort each other. Maybe to figure out what they were supposed to be doing all along.
They ride into the town on a Saturday morning. The sun is shining and the sky is the brightest blue that Alex has ever seen. If he didn't know any better, he'd say it was fake, that little towns like this don't exist. That they're just in the movies. That guys like him and Ryland don't get this, not with people watching them ride in and people waving.
"They're actually waving, Alex," Ryland says, like it's some kind of holy grail and Alex would laugh, but he gets it. Ryland's sunglasses take up half his face and there's a brief moment where Alex wants to tell him that he looks like an alien.
But he can't get the words out, which seems to be the theme as of late.
"Yeah," Alex says, unable to say anything else, the words sticking in his throat like it's lined with flypaper. He wants to ask why this town again, but he knows the answer. He knows the answer because he's asked the same question at least a hundred times since they talked about moving, but he asks again.
"Why this town, Ry?"
"Feels right. I like the name of it. Tiger Hammock isn't something you hear often."
"Yeah, there might be a reason for that," Alex says, laughing as Ryland growls and curls his hand into a claw, laughing with him. Felt right. Yeah, Alex could buy that.
"You okay?" Ryland says quietly as their laughter dies down. Alex wants to sigh, wants to tell him not to worry. But Ryland's been worrying about him since Alex had watched his restaurant burn down. (He remembers heat, heat and terror, and feeling defeated as they checked over the rubble. He remembers Ryland taking care of him before suggesting Tiger Hammock. Alex remembers feeling relief at getting away from New York.)
"Yeah, fine. Just tired, you know," Alex says, looking over at Ryland again. Ryland's tugged his glasses off and his eyes are clear and sharp, warm, even with the skeptical expression that sits on his face easily.
"Look. I know it's not. It's not ideal, okay? Moving from New York and all, but this place sounds like it could be awesome," Ryland says, easing the car to a stop and when Alex doesn't respond, Ryland sighs.
It's not like Alex wants them to be having problems. Alex can see them fracturing, splitting apart, coasting away from each other. Alex wants to go back to being in New York together, laughing over customers who order their food entirely too specific. Laughing over whatever role Ryland thought about trying out for, or the people he saw there.
But that's in New York. Now, here in Tiger Hammock (and Alex can't help his snort at that) they're accepting various jobs. Alex doesn't mind being a chef in a large restaurant, but he worries about Ryland and his acceptance of being asked to work with kids at the community center. They're drifting and Alex used to think they drifted together.
Now it just feels like they're drifting apart.
"You're just saying that 'cause you like the name," Alex says, hoping that they can get back to joking with each other and Ryland gives him a weak smile.
"I'm sorry you lost your-"
"Don't say it. I don't. Out of all the things we're not going to talk about, that one's pretty up there."
"Okay," Ryland says, turning the car off and it's suddenly too quiet, too tense, too full of what might happen and Alex opens the door.
The wind blows lightly, ruffling Alex's hair and when he looks over, Ryland's come to stand beside of him. There's a moment when Alex wants to lean into him, wants to touch him just to touch him, and when Ryland shifts closer, Alex lets himself lean against him. He remembers closing up the restaurant at night, remembers Ryland coming in, smiling at him, light in his eyes.
Alex's throat feels tight as he thinks about the fire, the one that they were lucky to get away from. The one that took the restaurant. He shakes his head, clearing his throat as Ryland looks down at him, concern shining in his eyes and when Ryland leans down to kiss him, Alex sighs.
At least that's still one thing that feels right.
"They said we'll have service in the hour. They're sending a handyman," Ryland says, wiggling his eyebrows as Alex snorts. Ryland grabs one of the waters out of their cooler and sits down on the steps, bracing his elbows on his legs as Alex sits down beside him.
"You gonna be okay with this?"
"Kind of have to be, don't I?"
"You say the word and we'll leave, Alex."
Ryland's looking at him, solemn and careful and when Alex meets his eyes his heart thumps painfully. Behind Ryland, the sky is nothing but a swath of blue, clear and easy and when Ryland leans in, Alex pushes closer.
They kiss and it's like coming home from the restaurant, greeting each other, tasting each other again. Ryland's hands, cold from the water bottle, frame his face, thumbs barely bumping Alex's glasses even as the wind ruffles their hair.
Alex sighs softly, pulling back, lingering in the quiet peace of kissing Ryland. When he opens his eyes, Ryland's watching him, eyes soft and hazy, lips curving into a gentle smile as his thumbs sweep over Alex's cheeks.
"Hello there."
"Hi," Alex says, smiling a little, his chest relaxing as they settle back, passing the water bottle back and forth. They hear the engine of a truck coming closer and when the truck actually makes it to the driveway, Alex can honestly say he's impressed. The truck's some old model, clunking along peaceably, but by the look on the guy's face who's driving, the drive had been anything but.
"Can we help you?" Alex calls out, standing and dusting off his pants. The guy hops out, shorter than Alex had been expecting a bright pink baseball cap jammed over his head. There's a logo that Alex can't quite make out and he's got a tool belt tossed over his shoulder.
"I'm Nate. Heard you need your water turned on."
He walks up to them, smiling easily and shakes their hands. Alex kind of wants to ask how old he is, but mostly he just wants hot water. Ryland starts talking to him and soon they're laughing and when Alex sits back down, he realizes vaguely that he's okay with being here for now.
Alex settles into a routine easily, getting up, getting ready, going into the restaurant and cooking things that would have made his friends in New York sneer. He comes home, fixes a sandwich and sits out on the porch, watching the sky fill and clear with clouds. He greets Ryland and they have dinner together and then he goes to bed.
It's not that he has a problem with routine, it's just that after the first few weeks, Alex realizes that he doesn't know anyone outside of the restaurant.
"So, who's Gabe again?" Alex asks finally, interrupting one of Ryland's stories, his eyes lit up as he talks about working with the kids and someone who gets that the kids aren't bad. Alex feels his heart thump painfully and even that's familiar, reminding him just how much he loves Ryland. How much he loves the man who gave up a perfectly okay life in New York to come to some town called Tiger Hammock.
"The guy who owns the community center. He wants to get these kids interested in everything, Alex. It's like. Some days, he has a music day, where he sits and plays the bass and everything else. And Victoria'll come in and play the keytar. The fucking keytar, Alex. And these kids. They just take to all of it because Gabe actually cares for them. It's amazing," Ryland says, eyes full of light and his face is the picture of contentment.
"Maybe I could come in one day, teach 'em how to cook some easy things."
Alex doesn't know why he says it, but something in his gut tells him that it's the best thing he could do. Ryland's grin goes even bigger and when they kiss, there's something like himself hovering in the back of his head. Alex smiles at Ryland and that night, when they go to bed, Alex slides his hand along Ryland's spine, feeling the bumps under smooth skin.
There's a patch of hair at the base of his spine that Alex smiles over. Ryland's familiar in everything; taste, feel, emotion and when Ryland rolls onto his back, all Alex can see is him smiling. Easy and soft, they move together, bed creaking in the room, their moans and gasps layering on top of it and when they come down, Ryland's fingers link with his.
When Alex wakes up, Ryland's scrambling around the bedroom, talking into his cellphone and laughing.
"Yes. Seriously, I swear to god, I overslept." He pauses before laughing. "None of your business, asshole. I'll be there in like, fifteen. Bye."
"Mm, morning," Alex says, stretching in the bed, feeling more like himself, like his skin fits again, and when Ryland leans down for a kiss, Alex sighs. It's like being back in New York, back in comfort, back in each other and Alex smiles against Ryland's lips.
"Morning. Gabe said let us know when you're free to come in. And I'm running late. Love you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go, earn validation for good deeds," Alex says, winking as Ryland laughs, taking the stairs two or three at a time.
Getting ready takes minimal effort, which makes Alex feel comfortable, ragged jeans and a worn t-shirt that he's pretty sure was once Ryland's. On his way to the restaurant, he stops by the local cafe, the instruments on the walls making it feel more like the lobby to a studio rather than a cafe.
Patchwork is spread across the back wall, each letter a different size, pattern, and color and while it should look ramshackle, it looks comfortable. Looking around, Alex grins at the mismatched cups and saucers, the way that everything looks second-hand and he finds himself just looking before he ever notices the woman in front of him.
Her dark hair's pulled up, wisps escaping the bejeweled bobby pins in the back and Alex notices that the only thing that matches are the aprons on the waitresses.
"Hey there. You need any help?" she says, curious yet smiling, like everyone in the town and Alex hadn't realized how lonely he'd felt. Granted, it was his own fault, but when he smiled at the woman, he liked the way she smiled back.
"Uh, whatever's the quickest vegan friendly breakfast you can hand to me, and a large coffee," he says, watching her smile, eyes sparking in amusement.
"Sure thing. I'm Victoria, shout if you need anything else."
Alex nods, watching her walk off as his mind digs around for the reason why her name sounds familiar. It's like watching a movie you haven't seen for a while, but he finally gets it. Victoria from the community center.
At least, he hopes it's her.
"Hey, what's your name? I need to put it on your cup."
"Afraid I'll lose it?" He teases as she laughs, nose scrunching up.
"Nah, afraid someone'll steal it. Patrick always keeps the best coffee for the first rush," she says, waiting with her marker poised. He sees a red-head in the back, scrambling eggs and pulling things out of the oven and he feels for him.
Working at a cafe that you owned could be dicey, but Alex misses the morning rush, the lunch-time rush, the dinner rush. Honestly, he misses all of it. And sure, working in a restaurant with a fancy name was fine and all, but there was something about the cafe that made his heart thump. It was the same thump from kissing Ryland for the first time; the same thump he'd gotten when he'd opened up his own restaurant for the first time.
"Alex. I'm Alex Suarez," he says finally, realizing that she was smiling at him. She nodded, scribbling on the cup before pouring coffee into it and handing him sugar and taking back cream when he waves it off.
"Nice to meet you, Alex. Alex Suarez. Been here in our little town long?"
"Nah. My boyfriend and I, we moved here about a month ago. I think that's when it was."
"Hey, you must be Ryland's Alex, then, huh?" she says, grinning at him as the red-head hands her a plate with a breakfast scramble that actually makes Alex's mouth water.
"Yeah. Ryland and I moved here from New York. So far, so great," Alex says, digging into the scramble and nearly making noise over it. When he caught Patrick's eye, he grinned, raising his coffee cup in a silent salute.
"He was telling me that, yeah. That's Patrick back there, by the way. Greta takes over the afternoon shift," she said, smiling when he waves back and smiles, a quirk of his lips and Alex spends another moment watching him cook before looking back to Victoria.
"So, are you a part-timer for the community center?" he asks.
"Mmhm. The handyman you see wandering around? Nate? He and I were friends back in New York too. He came here a few years ago, but I didn't get down here until last year. Gabe and Nate needed some extra help at the center, so I started splitting my time between here and there," Victoria says, smiling as she tops off his coffee.
Nodding, Alex finishes his breakfast before she takes the plate and smiles at him. He's not the type to get fixated on someone just because of their smile, but if he was going to start, she'd be a good choice, he thinks.
He pushes it out of his head as he says goodbye, walking out of the cafe and to the restaurant. It's not like other restaurants, he thinks, because in this one, there's no banter. There's no friendly jabs and he misses that; Alex didn't realize he would miss it so much. Through the day, he cooks, he yells (okay, once. But who the hell decided to put a hot pan right by him at the front?), and by the end of it all, all he wants to do is go home.
Alex sits outside on the curb for longer than he means to, checking the fingers from under the bandages. They're not burnt too badly, sore and red, but not shiny and Alex is pretty sure it won't blister. He pulls his phone out of his pocket, looking at the shiny plastic and fighting the urge to throw it across the parking lot before he texts Ryland.
It takes next to no time at all for Ryland to pull up, someone in the passenger seat who quickly climbs into the back. Alex gets up and climbs in, holding up his hand before looking over at Ryland. He can feel the panic starting to well up inside of him, the itchy panic that starts in his chest and blooms into his arms and hands. The same panic that he got whenever they started leaving New York.
"How much would you hate me if I said that I was going to quit the restaurant?"
"I wouldn't be surprised. And I'd say do what you have to. What the fuck happened to your hand?" Ryland says, taking his hand and gently inspecting it. Ryland's hands are cold and feel good on his palm, Alex unable to do anything but sigh softly.
"Hello again," Alex hears from the back and when he turns, Victoria from the diner is smiling at him. He finds that he's completely unable to not offer her a smile in response, looking back and over at Ryland.
"Will I live?"
"I dunno. I might have to take the hand."
"Oh dear," Alex says, grinning outright when Victoria laughs softly and Ryland snorts, leaning over to kiss him. It's a familiar, comfortable kiss, and there's something in Alex that settles.
Something that feels strangely like contentment.
Later that night, antibiotic ointment smeared on his hand with Ryland resting his head on Alex's chest, Alex finally says what's been on his mind.
"I'm calling the restaurant tomorrow. I'm quitting. And. I need to know you'll support me in that," Alex says, swallowing hard, the click of his throat audible in the dark silence of the room. On his chest, he feels Ryland's head move and lift off of him. In the dark, he can make out the shape of Ryland, but Alex knows that Ryland's looking at him with soft eyes.
Soft eyes that probably hold disappointment.
"I'm not exactly sure where you're getting the idea that I would never NOT support you in something. Seriously, you fucking hate that restaurant. I knew it when you came home the first day bitching about it. Take as much time as you need. Seriously. Cook for, like, our neighbors or something. Do what you need to, Alex."
Ryland's hand comes up, touching his face lightly, comforting in the light touch. He remembers the first time he met Ryland, both of them all angles and full of high school angst. Alex remembers how easily he'd clicked with Ryland, remembers the delight in meeting up with him again in a Whole Foods, of all places.
And Ryland's always supported him, Alex knows this, he knows this and yet he's still waiting for some sign that Ryland's going to leave.
Sometimes Alex wants to kick his own ass.
"Okay. I. Thank you," Alex says softly, reaching up to comb his fingers through Ryland's hair, seeing the flash of white teeth that comes with Ryland's smile.
"No thanks needed. But, if you wanna really thank me, you could always agree to a threesome with the lovely Victoria," Ryland says, a grin in his voice and Alex finds himself laughing, tugging Ryland down into a kiss, letting their tongues tangle. They stay like that, kissing, whispering like someone's going to hear them.
Alex feels another piece of him relax with every single touch of Ryland's lips, a smile hovering between them.
"You know," Ryland murmurs against Alex's lips, "that wasn't a no on the threesome."
Laughing, Alex tugs on Ryland's bottom lip, sucking lightly before grinning. It wouldn't be the first time Ryland had suggested welcoming someone into the bedroom, and it wouldn't be the first time that Alex agreed.
"Nope. Not a no."
Alex spends a few days at home, lounging around before he starts cooking whatever comes to his mind. He makes dips, bruschetta, anything else that comes to mind and when he's done, he walks them to the community center.
Starship Community Center is emblazoned across the front of the building, bird's nests in every crevice they can find and when he looks at the door, a wall of color greets him. There's drawings of birds and tropical scenes and he gets lost in looking at them, the food in his hands growing heavy and hot. His fingers ache from it and when he looks up, Ryland's standing there, hip braced against the door-frame and a smile on his face.
"And what do my wandering eyes spy, but a lonesome traveler bearing gifts of sustenance," he says, affecting a lofty British accent, grinning as he takes the food from Alex, kissing him slow. Ryland keeps kissing him until the food gets too heavy and all that Alex can think is that this is what his days should be like.
They should be about coming in to see Ryland and getting some ridiculous greeting in some equally ridiculous accent. It should be about slow kisses that leave Alex's knees weak and his chest tight.
It's like being back in New York with his own place.
Ryland leads him back, hand lingering on Alex's back as he sets the food down and before Alex can think, can breathe, can even blink, Ryland's crowding him against the counter. Grinning, Alex braces his hands on Ryland's arms, feeling the shift of muscles and when they kiss, Alex is more than grateful for the counter behind him. Ryland's hands fit on his waist, lifting him onto the counter as his hand pushes under Alex's shirt.
It's like making out in high school, Alex thinks, kissing Ryland slowly, taking his time to explore and take in all the sounds Ryland lets slip out. The counter's digging into the small of Alex's back as he works his hands between them to sweep fingertips over Ryland's hip. Pulling back, Ryland drags in a breath, resting his forehead against Alex's, grinning.
"Maybe we shouldn't be making out in the community center kitchen," Ryland says, laughing breathlessly.
"Oh, no, you should totally keep going," says a guy from the doorway, grinning broadly from behind huge glasses, a hoodie thrown over a t-shirt and Ryland snorts.
"Voyeur."
"Hey, don't make out in the community kitchen and I won't watch."
"Liar. Alex, this is Gabe. He owns the community center."
"What up, dude? Oh man, is that lasagna, please tell me it's lasagna. I haven't had any in forever."
"Uh. Hi, and yeah. Vegan lasagna, if that's not a problem," Alex says, grinning as Ryland pulls away from him reluctantly, grumbling but still smiling. Alex kisses him briefly before offering his hand to Gabe. Gabe shakes it briefly, focused on the lasagna.
"Run away with me and leave Ryland. Vegan lasagna, fuck man. Marry me instead,"
Alex laughs as Gabe starts digging into the lasagna, not even bothering with a plate, just eating it straight out of the pan. He makes some noises and Ryland rolls his eyes fondly, reaching over and ruffling Gabe's hair.
"Told you my man could cook."
Gabe mumbles something around a mouthful of food and goes back to eating, watching the two of them as Ryland grins more.
"You wanna go to Patchwork and eat?" Ryland says, looking at Alex and Alex would normally say yes. He would normally want out of a community center, but when Gabe makes more delighted noises as he eats, he just wants to sit down with Ryland. Alex wants nothing more than to sit with Ryland and watch him boss some kids around on a stage.
"Nah. Let's grab some food and you can introduce me to the kids," Ryland says, smiling at him.
Alex smiles back, and for once, his chest doesn't feel tight; instead, he feels warm and comfortable in the kitchen. He feels comfortable following Ryland.
Then again, he always has.
Ages ago,
fictionalfaerie bought one of my fics for the help_haiti thing. And I failed so hard on producing on time, unfortunately.But here it is! She asked for a Small town AU with her OT3 (Ryland/Alex/Victoria) along with everyone else, as you do. I'm going to be posting more from this universe hopefully, but I thought I'd post the first part of it, the actual fic.
Title: At Least I'm Waking Up
Pairing(s): Ryland/Alex (pre Ryland/Alex/Victoria)
Rating: Light R
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Title comes from Bang by Empires!
Word Count: 3683
***Notes: Completely unbeta'd, so there may be a few tense changes etc. Apologies if you spot them!***
Summary: It's a random city on a map, ridiculous in it's name, welcoming once you arrive. Ryland and Alex leave New York and come here, to heal, to comfort each other. Maybe to figure out what they were supposed to be doing all along.
They ride into the town on a Saturday morning. The sun is shining and the sky is the brightest blue that Alex has ever seen. If he didn't know any better, he'd say it was fake, that little towns like this don't exist. That they're just in the movies. That guys like him and Ryland don't get this, not with people watching them ride in and people waving.
"They're actually waving, Alex," Ryland says, like it's some kind of holy grail and Alex would laugh, but he gets it. Ryland's sunglasses take up half his face and there's a brief moment where Alex wants to tell him that he looks like an alien.
But he can't get the words out, which seems to be the theme as of late.
"Yeah," Alex says, unable to say anything else, the words sticking in his throat like it's lined with flypaper. He wants to ask why this town again, but he knows the answer. He knows the answer because he's asked the same question at least a hundred times since they talked about moving, but he asks again.
"Why this town, Ry?"
"Feels right. I like the name of it. Tiger Hammock isn't something you hear often."
"Yeah, there might be a reason for that," Alex says, laughing as Ryland growls and curls his hand into a claw, laughing with him. Felt right. Yeah, Alex could buy that.
"You okay?" Ryland says quietly as their laughter dies down. Alex wants to sigh, wants to tell him not to worry. But Ryland's been worrying about him since Alex had watched his restaurant burn down. (He remembers heat, heat and terror, and feeling defeated as they checked over the rubble. He remembers Ryland taking care of him before suggesting Tiger Hammock. Alex remembers feeling relief at getting away from New York.)
"Yeah, fine. Just tired, you know," Alex says, looking over at Ryland again. Ryland's tugged his glasses off and his eyes are clear and sharp, warm, even with the skeptical expression that sits on his face easily.
"Look. I know it's not. It's not ideal, okay? Moving from New York and all, but this place sounds like it could be awesome," Ryland says, easing the car to a stop and when Alex doesn't respond, Ryland sighs.
It's not like Alex wants them to be having problems. Alex can see them fracturing, splitting apart, coasting away from each other. Alex wants to go back to being in New York together, laughing over customers who order their food entirely too specific. Laughing over whatever role Ryland thought about trying out for, or the people he saw there.
But that's in New York. Now, here in Tiger Hammock (and Alex can't help his snort at that) they're accepting various jobs. Alex doesn't mind being a chef in a large restaurant, but he worries about Ryland and his acceptance of being asked to work with kids at the community center. They're drifting and Alex used to think they drifted together.
Now it just feels like they're drifting apart.
"You're just saying that 'cause you like the name," Alex says, hoping that they can get back to joking with each other and Ryland gives him a weak smile.
"I'm sorry you lost your-"
"Don't say it. I don't. Out of all the things we're not going to talk about, that one's pretty up there."
"Okay," Ryland says, turning the car off and it's suddenly too quiet, too tense, too full of what might happen and Alex opens the door.
The wind blows lightly, ruffling Alex's hair and when he looks over, Ryland's come to stand beside of him. There's a moment when Alex wants to lean into him, wants to touch him just to touch him, and when Ryland shifts closer, Alex lets himself lean against him. He remembers closing up the restaurant at night, remembers Ryland coming in, smiling at him, light in his eyes.
Alex's throat feels tight as he thinks about the fire, the one that they were lucky to get away from. The one that took the restaurant. He shakes his head, clearing his throat as Ryland looks down at him, concern shining in his eyes and when Ryland leans down to kiss him, Alex sighs.
At least that's still one thing that feels right.
"They said we'll have service in the hour. They're sending a handyman," Ryland says, wiggling his eyebrows as Alex snorts. Ryland grabs one of the waters out of their cooler and sits down on the steps, bracing his elbows on his legs as Alex sits down beside him.
"You gonna be okay with this?"
"Kind of have to be, don't I?"
"You say the word and we'll leave, Alex."
Ryland's looking at him, solemn and careful and when Alex meets his eyes his heart thumps painfully. Behind Ryland, the sky is nothing but a swath of blue, clear and easy and when Ryland leans in, Alex pushes closer.
They kiss and it's like coming home from the restaurant, greeting each other, tasting each other again. Ryland's hands, cold from the water bottle, frame his face, thumbs barely bumping Alex's glasses even as the wind ruffles their hair.
Alex sighs softly, pulling back, lingering in the quiet peace of kissing Ryland. When he opens his eyes, Ryland's watching him, eyes soft and hazy, lips curving into a gentle smile as his thumbs sweep over Alex's cheeks.
"Hello there."
"Hi," Alex says, smiling a little, his chest relaxing as they settle back, passing the water bottle back and forth. They hear the engine of a truck coming closer and when the truck actually makes it to the driveway, Alex can honestly say he's impressed. The truck's some old model, clunking along peaceably, but by the look on the guy's face who's driving, the drive had been anything but.
"Can we help you?" Alex calls out, standing and dusting off his pants. The guy hops out, shorter than Alex had been expecting a bright pink baseball cap jammed over his head. There's a logo that Alex can't quite make out and he's got a tool belt tossed over his shoulder.
"I'm Nate. Heard you need your water turned on."
He walks up to them, smiling easily and shakes their hands. Alex kind of wants to ask how old he is, but mostly he just wants hot water. Ryland starts talking to him and soon they're laughing and when Alex sits back down, he realizes vaguely that he's okay with being here for now.
Alex settles into a routine easily, getting up, getting ready, going into the restaurant and cooking things that would have made his friends in New York sneer. He comes home, fixes a sandwich and sits out on the porch, watching the sky fill and clear with clouds. He greets Ryland and they have dinner together and then he goes to bed.
It's not that he has a problem with routine, it's just that after the first few weeks, Alex realizes that he doesn't know anyone outside of the restaurant.
"So, who's Gabe again?" Alex asks finally, interrupting one of Ryland's stories, his eyes lit up as he talks about working with the kids and someone who gets that the kids aren't bad. Alex feels his heart thump painfully and even that's familiar, reminding him just how much he loves Ryland. How much he loves the man who gave up a perfectly okay life in New York to come to some town called Tiger Hammock.
"The guy who owns the community center. He wants to get these kids interested in everything, Alex. It's like. Some days, he has a music day, where he sits and plays the bass and everything else. And Victoria'll come in and play the keytar. The fucking keytar, Alex. And these kids. They just take to all of it because Gabe actually cares for them. It's amazing," Ryland says, eyes full of light and his face is the picture of contentment.
"Maybe I could come in one day, teach 'em how to cook some easy things."
Alex doesn't know why he says it, but something in his gut tells him that it's the best thing he could do. Ryland's grin goes even bigger and when they kiss, there's something like himself hovering in the back of his head. Alex smiles at Ryland and that night, when they go to bed, Alex slides his hand along Ryland's spine, feeling the bumps under smooth skin.
There's a patch of hair at the base of his spine that Alex smiles over. Ryland's familiar in everything; taste, feel, emotion and when Ryland rolls onto his back, all Alex can see is him smiling. Easy and soft, they move together, bed creaking in the room, their moans and gasps layering on top of it and when they come down, Ryland's fingers link with his.
When Alex wakes up, Ryland's scrambling around the bedroom, talking into his cellphone and laughing.
"Yes. Seriously, I swear to god, I overslept." He pauses before laughing. "None of your business, asshole. I'll be there in like, fifteen. Bye."
"Mm, morning," Alex says, stretching in the bed, feeling more like himself, like his skin fits again, and when Ryland leans down for a kiss, Alex sighs. It's like being back in New York, back in comfort, back in each other and Alex smiles against Ryland's lips.
"Morning. Gabe said let us know when you're free to come in. And I'm running late. Love you."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go, earn validation for good deeds," Alex says, winking as Ryland laughs, taking the stairs two or three at a time.
Getting ready takes minimal effort, which makes Alex feel comfortable, ragged jeans and a worn t-shirt that he's pretty sure was once Ryland's. On his way to the restaurant, he stops by the local cafe, the instruments on the walls making it feel more like the lobby to a studio rather than a cafe.
Patchwork is spread across the back wall, each letter a different size, pattern, and color and while it should look ramshackle, it looks comfortable. Looking around, Alex grins at the mismatched cups and saucers, the way that everything looks second-hand and he finds himself just looking before he ever notices the woman in front of him.
Her dark hair's pulled up, wisps escaping the bejeweled bobby pins in the back and Alex notices that the only thing that matches are the aprons on the waitresses.
"Hey there. You need any help?" she says, curious yet smiling, like everyone in the town and Alex hadn't realized how lonely he'd felt. Granted, it was his own fault, but when he smiled at the woman, he liked the way she smiled back.
"Uh, whatever's the quickest vegan friendly breakfast you can hand to me, and a large coffee," he says, watching her smile, eyes sparking in amusement.
"Sure thing. I'm Victoria, shout if you need anything else."
Alex nods, watching her walk off as his mind digs around for the reason why her name sounds familiar. It's like watching a movie you haven't seen for a while, but he finally gets it. Victoria from the community center.
At least, he hopes it's her.
"Hey, what's your name? I need to put it on your cup."
"Afraid I'll lose it?" He teases as she laughs, nose scrunching up.
"Nah, afraid someone'll steal it. Patrick always keeps the best coffee for the first rush," she says, waiting with her marker poised. He sees a red-head in the back, scrambling eggs and pulling things out of the oven and he feels for him.
Working at a cafe that you owned could be dicey, but Alex misses the morning rush, the lunch-time rush, the dinner rush. Honestly, he misses all of it. And sure, working in a restaurant with a fancy name was fine and all, but there was something about the cafe that made his heart thump. It was the same thump from kissing Ryland for the first time; the same thump he'd gotten when he'd opened up his own restaurant for the first time.
"Alex. I'm Alex Suarez," he says finally, realizing that she was smiling at him. She nodded, scribbling on the cup before pouring coffee into it and handing him sugar and taking back cream when he waves it off.
"Nice to meet you, Alex. Alex Suarez. Been here in our little town long?"
"Nah. My boyfriend and I, we moved here about a month ago. I think that's when it was."
"Hey, you must be Ryland's Alex, then, huh?" she says, grinning at him as the red-head hands her a plate with a breakfast scramble that actually makes Alex's mouth water.
"Yeah. Ryland and I moved here from New York. So far, so great," Alex says, digging into the scramble and nearly making noise over it. When he caught Patrick's eye, he grinned, raising his coffee cup in a silent salute.
"He was telling me that, yeah. That's Patrick back there, by the way. Greta takes over the afternoon shift," she said, smiling when he waves back and smiles, a quirk of his lips and Alex spends another moment watching him cook before looking back to Victoria.
"So, are you a part-timer for the community center?" he asks.
"Mmhm. The handyman you see wandering around? Nate? He and I were friends back in New York too. He came here a few years ago, but I didn't get down here until last year. Gabe and Nate needed some extra help at the center, so I started splitting my time between here and there," Victoria says, smiling as she tops off his coffee.
Nodding, Alex finishes his breakfast before she takes the plate and smiles at him. He's not the type to get fixated on someone just because of their smile, but if he was going to start, she'd be a good choice, he thinks.
He pushes it out of his head as he says goodbye, walking out of the cafe and to the restaurant. It's not like other restaurants, he thinks, because in this one, there's no banter. There's no friendly jabs and he misses that; Alex didn't realize he would miss it so much. Through the day, he cooks, he yells (okay, once. But who the hell decided to put a hot pan right by him at the front?), and by the end of it all, all he wants to do is go home.
Alex sits outside on the curb for longer than he means to, checking the fingers from under the bandages. They're not burnt too badly, sore and red, but not shiny and Alex is pretty sure it won't blister. He pulls his phone out of his pocket, looking at the shiny plastic and fighting the urge to throw it across the parking lot before he texts Ryland.
It takes next to no time at all for Ryland to pull up, someone in the passenger seat who quickly climbs into the back. Alex gets up and climbs in, holding up his hand before looking over at Ryland. He can feel the panic starting to well up inside of him, the itchy panic that starts in his chest and blooms into his arms and hands. The same panic that he got whenever they started leaving New York.
"How much would you hate me if I said that I was going to quit the restaurant?"
"I wouldn't be surprised. And I'd say do what you have to. What the fuck happened to your hand?" Ryland says, taking his hand and gently inspecting it. Ryland's hands are cold and feel good on his palm, Alex unable to do anything but sigh softly.
"Hello again," Alex hears from the back and when he turns, Victoria from the diner is smiling at him. He finds that he's completely unable to not offer her a smile in response, looking back and over at Ryland.
"Will I live?"
"I dunno. I might have to take the hand."
"Oh dear," Alex says, grinning outright when Victoria laughs softly and Ryland snorts, leaning over to kiss him. It's a familiar, comfortable kiss, and there's something in Alex that settles.
Something that feels strangely like contentment.
Later that night, antibiotic ointment smeared on his hand with Ryland resting his head on Alex's chest, Alex finally says what's been on his mind.
"I'm calling the restaurant tomorrow. I'm quitting. And. I need to know you'll support me in that," Alex says, swallowing hard, the click of his throat audible in the dark silence of the room. On his chest, he feels Ryland's head move and lift off of him. In the dark, he can make out the shape of Ryland, but Alex knows that Ryland's looking at him with soft eyes.
Soft eyes that probably hold disappointment.
"I'm not exactly sure where you're getting the idea that I would never NOT support you in something. Seriously, you fucking hate that restaurant. I knew it when you came home the first day bitching about it. Take as much time as you need. Seriously. Cook for, like, our neighbors or something. Do what you need to, Alex."
Ryland's hand comes up, touching his face lightly, comforting in the light touch. He remembers the first time he met Ryland, both of them all angles and full of high school angst. Alex remembers how easily he'd clicked with Ryland, remembers the delight in meeting up with him again in a Whole Foods, of all places.
And Ryland's always supported him, Alex knows this, he knows this and yet he's still waiting for some sign that Ryland's going to leave.
Sometimes Alex wants to kick his own ass.
"Okay. I. Thank you," Alex says softly, reaching up to comb his fingers through Ryland's hair, seeing the flash of white teeth that comes with Ryland's smile.
"No thanks needed. But, if you wanna really thank me, you could always agree to a threesome with the lovely Victoria," Ryland says, a grin in his voice and Alex finds himself laughing, tugging Ryland down into a kiss, letting their tongues tangle. They stay like that, kissing, whispering like someone's going to hear them.
Alex feels another piece of him relax with every single touch of Ryland's lips, a smile hovering between them.
"You know," Ryland murmurs against Alex's lips, "that wasn't a no on the threesome."
Laughing, Alex tugs on Ryland's bottom lip, sucking lightly before grinning. It wouldn't be the first time Ryland had suggested welcoming someone into the bedroom, and it wouldn't be the first time that Alex agreed.
"Nope. Not a no."
Alex spends a few days at home, lounging around before he starts cooking whatever comes to his mind. He makes dips, bruschetta, anything else that comes to mind and when he's done, he walks them to the community center.
Starship Community Center is emblazoned across the front of the building, bird's nests in every crevice they can find and when he looks at the door, a wall of color greets him. There's drawings of birds and tropical scenes and he gets lost in looking at them, the food in his hands growing heavy and hot. His fingers ache from it and when he looks up, Ryland's standing there, hip braced against the door-frame and a smile on his face.
"And what do my wandering eyes spy, but a lonesome traveler bearing gifts of sustenance," he says, affecting a lofty British accent, grinning as he takes the food from Alex, kissing him slow. Ryland keeps kissing him until the food gets too heavy and all that Alex can think is that this is what his days should be like.
They should be about coming in to see Ryland and getting some ridiculous greeting in some equally ridiculous accent. It should be about slow kisses that leave Alex's knees weak and his chest tight.
It's like being back in New York with his own place.
Ryland leads him back, hand lingering on Alex's back as he sets the food down and before Alex can think, can breathe, can even blink, Ryland's crowding him against the counter. Grinning, Alex braces his hands on Ryland's arms, feeling the shift of muscles and when they kiss, Alex is more than grateful for the counter behind him. Ryland's hands fit on his waist, lifting him onto the counter as his hand pushes under Alex's shirt.
It's like making out in high school, Alex thinks, kissing Ryland slowly, taking his time to explore and take in all the sounds Ryland lets slip out. The counter's digging into the small of Alex's back as he works his hands between them to sweep fingertips over Ryland's hip. Pulling back, Ryland drags in a breath, resting his forehead against Alex's, grinning.
"Maybe we shouldn't be making out in the community center kitchen," Ryland says, laughing breathlessly.
"Oh, no, you should totally keep going," says a guy from the doorway, grinning broadly from behind huge glasses, a hoodie thrown over a t-shirt and Ryland snorts.
"Voyeur."
"Hey, don't make out in the community kitchen and I won't watch."
"Liar. Alex, this is Gabe. He owns the community center."
"What up, dude? Oh man, is that lasagna, please tell me it's lasagna. I haven't had any in forever."
"Uh. Hi, and yeah. Vegan lasagna, if that's not a problem," Alex says, grinning as Ryland pulls away from him reluctantly, grumbling but still smiling. Alex kisses him briefly before offering his hand to Gabe. Gabe shakes it briefly, focused on the lasagna.
"Run away with me and leave Ryland. Vegan lasagna, fuck man. Marry me instead,"
Alex laughs as Gabe starts digging into the lasagna, not even bothering with a plate, just eating it straight out of the pan. He makes some noises and Ryland rolls his eyes fondly, reaching over and ruffling Gabe's hair.
"Told you my man could cook."
Gabe mumbles something around a mouthful of food and goes back to eating, watching the two of them as Ryland grins more.
"You wanna go to Patchwork and eat?" Ryland says, looking at Alex and Alex would normally say yes. He would normally want out of a community center, but when Gabe makes more delighted noises as he eats, he just wants to sit down with Ryland. Alex wants nothing more than to sit with Ryland and watch him boss some kids around on a stage.
"Nah. Let's grab some food and you can introduce me to the kids," Ryland says, smiling at him.
Alex smiles back, and for once, his chest doesn't feel tight; instead, he feels warm and comfortable in the kitchen. He feels comfortable following Ryland.
Then again, he always has.
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Date: 12 Aug 2010 04:09 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Aug 2010 04:14 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Aug 2010 04:23 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Aug 2010 04:28 (UTC)<3
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Date: 12 Aug 2010 05:07 (UTC)The wording is real in a soft way, and I love that. It's like watching a slightly faded movie or something- I am SO looking forward to future installments, oh my god
love it
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Date: 12 Aug 2010 05:10 (UTC)And OH. Thank you for that! That's an absolutely lovely way to put it, and I'm utterly delighted by that.
Thank you so much.
♥
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Date: 14 Aug 2010 19:53 (UTC)So much.
Please to be writing fic for me ALWAYS.
♥
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Date: 14 Aug 2010 21:36 (UTC)I'm glad you love it! It was, honestly, a lot of fun to write and figure out who would go where, as far as their roles in the fic. I actually debated about making someone else head of the community center, but Gabe seemed to fit.
And ♥. I love writing fic for you. Who do you wanna see next? A day in the life of Gabriel or Nasty Nate? :-D :-D :-D
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Date: 14 Aug 2010 22:27 (UTC)Or, or, or, y'know, my favey fave, if you felt like writing Pete.
Or, or, or! Brendonnnn.
Or, or, or!!! Empiiiires.
I AM SO EASILY PLEASED.
Srsly, though, this is fabtastic.
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Date: 15 Aug 2010 01:09 (UTC)I can work something up, I think. Oooh, Pete. OOH, BRENDON. OOH, OOH, OOH! EMPIRES.
I am so easily swayed. (seriously, if there's a cult near me, I am so so fucked. XD)
Srsly though, your face is fabtastic. OOH, SEE WHAT I DID THERE? ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
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Date: 7 Apr 2013 19:28 (UTC)I want more Tiger Hammock fic! Please!